Daily Politics from the New Statesman cover image

Is it time to abolish the monarchy - Recorded live at the Cambridge literary Festival

Daily Politics from the New Statesman

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The Importance of Soft Power

In Britain, when we lay a wreath, nobody has a problem with the queen or the king doing that. In Eastern Europe in the 90s, for them, she was the ultimate symbol of stability and continuity. We live in an era of soft power, and of course the monarchies are rational. So is the boat race and, I don't know, wedding dresses in Turkey at Christmas and hot cross buns. The fact is we are where we are. It has served us incredibly well. And it will be an act monumental, folly and self-harm to get rid of it.

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